Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have registered an FIR against several individuals and media platforms amid heightened tensions in the Valley following protests over the reported killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Srinagar Police on Tuesday registered an FIR (01/2026) at the Cyber Police Station against several individuals and online platforms accused of circulating “false and misleading” information intended to disturb public order. Police said multiple social media profiles had been identified and those concerned summoned for questioning.
In a statement, police warned that sharing fake news or unverified, inflammatory material would invite “stringent legal consequences”, urging citizens and media outlets to rely on official sources.
The action comes after security forces imposed restrictions across parts of the Valley following protests on Sunday. In Srinagar, barricades were erected around Lal Chowk, with tin sheets and concertina wire placed on roads leading to the Ghanta Ghar clock tower to prevent gatherings. Security personnel deployed in strength fired teargas shells in areas such as Jehangeer Chowk, Batamaloo and Bemina to disperse protesters, according to local reports.
The restrictions followed a review meeting chaired by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who appealed for calm and urged communities to uphold peace. Educational institutions across Kashmir were closed for two days and university examinations postponed. Many markets and private offices remained shut after a shutdown call by the Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulama, an amalgam of Islamic organisations headed by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. Several Shia groups supported the call.
Curbs on social media pages
Separately, the verified Facebook and Instagram pages of Kashmir Life were restricted in India after Meta said it received a legal request under Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000. The provision allows authorities to direct intermediaries to disable access to content upon receiving actual knowledge through a court order or government notification.
Kashmir Life, a Srinagar-based news outlet founded in 2009, said it had not received prior notice before access to its pages was blocked. The organisation has written to Meta and the authorities seeking clarification on the specific grounds, scope and duration of the restriction. Its Facebook page has around 1.8 million followers, making it a significant local news distribution platform.
Officials have not publicly detailed the specific content that prompted either the FIR or the social media restriction.